Reesa's Picks for Year's Best 2011

This is the first time that I have not felt fully invested in my number one movie like last year when Avatar should have won. Whatever film, actor, director is chosen, I'll be perfectly content with the choice. Which is to say, that there were some good movies this year, but nothing screams AMAZING. I loved the retro throwbacks to early cinema with the John Ford like War Horse that is reminiscent of the bigger than life Gone With The Wind type of film. The silent The Artist reminds us of that movies used to be, as does Hugo which schools us on early special effects in pleasant 3D. Adventures of Tin Tin was my pic for best animated that utilized today's technology to it's greatest potential tied with non stop action. Actors were harder to consider because of the remarkable work that was falling through the cracks like A Better Life's Emian Bichir. Thomas Horn for a child and first time actor was believable and moving in Extremely Loud Incredibly Close. Who can't forget Elle Fanning in Super 8? Maybe they should make a category for child actors. Ryan Gosling had a terrific year with Crazy Stupid Love, Drive and Ides of March. I couldn't decide and didn't include him for best actor. I don't think there's any question regarding Viola Davis as best actress although Glenn Close and Meryl Streep were their usual best. Jessica Chastin has been in everything this year and her turn in The Help made her my top choice as supporting actress. As did Christopher Plummer for best supporting actor over my other favorite Nick Nolte. Didn't get to see many foreign films but LOVED the South Korean film Sunny. There were also many documentaries that deserve attention but Being Elmo and Buck rose to the top as being informative as well as entertaining.

Would love to hear your choices for what moved you this year. Please leave your "lists" in the comment section.

BEST PICTURE:
1. War Horse
2. Hugo
3. Extremely Close Incredibly Loud
4. The Artist
5. The Descendants
6. Moneyball
7. Super 8
8. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
9. Drive
10. Ides of March

DIRECTOR:
1. Steven Spielberg – War Horse
2. Martin Scorsese - Hugo
3. Stephen Daldry – Extremely Close Incredibly Loud
4. Alexander Payne – The Descendants
5. Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist


BEST ACTOR:
1. George Clooney – The Descendants
2. Thomas Horn – Extremely Loud Incredibly Close
3. Jean Dujardin – The Artist
4. Brad Pitt - Moneyball
5. Demian Bichir – A Better Life

BEST ACTRESS:
1. Viola Davis – The Help
2. Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn
3. Meryl Streep – Iron Lady
4. Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs
5. Elizabeth Olsen – Martha Marcy May Marlene

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
1. Christopher Plummer – The Beginners
2. Nick Nolte - Warrior
3. Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn
4. Albert Brooks - Drive
5. Andy Serkis – Rise of the Planet of the Apes

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
1. Jessica Chastin – The Help
2. Melissa McCarty - Bridesmaids
3. Octavia Butler – The Help
4. Shailene Woodley – The Descendants
5. Elle Fanning – Super 8

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY FILM:
1. Janusz Kainski – War Horse
2. Hugo – Robert Richardson
3. Emmanuel Lubezki – Tree of Life

BEST ANIMATED FILM:
1. Adventures of Tin Tin
2. Arthur Christmas
3. Rango

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM:
1. Being Elmo
2. Buck

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
1. Sunny
2. A Separation